Joseph wolff



(ModeL) J. WOLFE.

CORSET STIFPENBR.

Patented Mar. 27, 1894.

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Witneasas UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH WOLFF, OF COLOGNE-ON-THE-RHINE, GERMANY.

CORSET-STIFFIENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,132, dated March27, 1894..

Application filed June 8, 1892. Serial No.435,938- (ModeL) Patented inBelgium May 19, 1892, No. 99.727; in France May 19,1892,N0. 221,767; inEnglandMay 19, 1892, No. 9,512; in Switzerland May 31, 1892, No. 5,180;in Italy June 30, 1892, No. 407. and in Austria-Hungary October 9, 1892,No. 25,779 and No. 42,112.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JOSEPH WOLFE, a subect of the King of Prussia,residing at Gologne-on-the Rhine, Prussia, Germany, have Inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Dress or Corset Stiffeners, ofwhich the following is a specification.

I have obtained Letters Patent on this invention in other countries asfollows: Belgium, No. 99,727, dated May 19, 1892; France, No. 221,767,dated May 19, 1892; Italy, No. 407, dated June 30, 1892;Austria-Hungary, No. 25,779 and No. 42,112, dated October 9, 1892; GreatBritain, No. 9,512, dated May 19, 1892, and Switzerland, No. 5,180,dated May 31, 1892.

My invention relates to dress or corset stlffeners, and the object ofthe invention is to produce a stiffener which shall not only be equalbut superior to real whalebone in durability and resiliency.

My invention consists of a strip of resilient material such as metal,whalebone, or any of the well-known cheap substitutes, tapered at tsends and provided with a braided cover- 1ng of textile material whollyinclosing it and closely adhering to its ends.

It further consists of a strip of resilient material, as set forth,which is both tapered and notched at its ends and provided with acovering of textile material wholly inclosing the same and closelyadhering to and conforming with the notched edges of its ends.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 illustrates a stiffener complete, embodying my invention. Fig.2 is a cross-section of Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 illustrate severalforms of the tapered ends. Fig. 6 represents a face View of thestiffener without any covering. Fig. 7 is an edge view of Fig. 6 andFig. 8 represents an edge view of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a represents the inner flexible strip and bits braided or woven covering. The ends of said flexible strips aretapered in their general outlines as indicated in the drawings. For thepurpose of more firmly holding the covering to the strip, the taperedends may be serrated or notched in various forms as indicated in Figs.3, 4 and 5 which illustrate several ends of strips. The braided or lacedcovering is applied closely to the flexible strip and to its-taperedends, covering the same completely and firmly. By reason of the taperingends of strips and the covering inclosing the same, the strips cannotshift in the covering and by reason of the close adherence of thecovering to the strips they are so strengthened or reinforced that thestays may be bent to a more than ordinary degree without breaking. Thisis largely owing to the fact that when the elastic strip becomes curvedor deflected to any extent, the part of the covering adjoining itsconvex side will at once be put under elastic tension, or if suchtension already exists in the covering prior to the bending of thestrip,the same will then be increased, and in either case such elastic tensionwill add to the resiliency of the device. The greater the tension of thethreads in the braiding machine, when braiding the covering on thestrips, the more firmly will the covering 'adhere to the same and thegreater will be the resistance which the stay offers to breaking. Thesubstance of the covering may be cotton, wool, silk, fine spun thread,or any other kind of textile material and the same may be of any color.

Stays constructed in accordance with my invention do not need to beprovided with any additional covering before being used, but may besewed orattached directly to the material to which they are to beapplied.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-- ters Patent of the UnitedStates- 1. A dress or corset stiffener consisting of a strip ofresilient material tapered at its ends'and of a braided covering oftextile material entirely inclosing it and closely adhering to its ends,substantially as set forth.

2. A dress or corset stiifener consisting of a strip of resilientmaterial tapered and notched at ends and acovering of textile materialclosely adherent thereto and entirely inclosing the stifiener andclosely adhering to and conforming with the notched edges of the ends,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. Y

JOSEPH WOLFF. -Witnesses:

A. Voe'r, R. KANT.

